IELTS Task 2: Discussion Essay vs Opinion Essay
How to tell an IELTS discussion question from an opinion question, and the paragraph plan for each so you do not answer the wrong task.
Updated
Read the last line of the question
Task 2 prompts look similar until the instruction. That last sentence decides the essay type. Writing a strong opinion on a "discuss both views" question is the usual reason a clear essay still misses the task.
- Opinion (agree or disagree): "To what extent do you agree or disagree?" You must state your position.
- Discussion: "Discuss both these views and give your own opinion." You must explain both sides, then give your view.
- If the question names two groups ("some people... others..."), plan for a discussion unless it only asks whether you agree.
Same topic, two different essays
Topic: cities investing in public transport instead of roads.
Opinion thesis: "I agree that cities should spend more on public transport than on new roads, because congestion and air quality improve faster when fewer people drive." One side. Two reasons. Your view in the introduction.
Discussion thesis: "Some cities prioritise roads because drivers want shorter journeys, while others prioritise buses and trains to cut traffic. I agree with the second group." Both views get a paragraph. Your opinion is extra, not a replacement for the other side.
Paragraph plan for a discussion essay
Aim for 260 to 290 words. Do not spend the whole essay on the side you prefer.
- Introduction: paraphrase both views in one or two sentences, then say which view you support.
- Body 1: the first view, with one specific example. Stay fair. Do not mock it.
- Body 2: the second view, with a different example.
- Body 3 or the close of body 2: your opinion, tied to one of those examples. A separate third body is fine if you have time.
- Conclusion: name both views again in one sentence, then repeat your opinion. No new idea.
The mistake that shows up on the next essay
Writers who miss this once usually miss it again: they explain only their favourite side, or they discuss both sides and never say what they think. Examiners treat that as task response, not as a grammar problem, so a clean paragraph can still sit at band 6.
After you finish, check three lines only: the last sentence of the introduction, the first sentence of each body, and the conclusion. Each one should match the instruction you were given.
Proselift is for that check on your own Task 2 draft. Paste the essay, see whether task response is the weak criterion, and keep the same mistake visible the next time you write a discussion prompt. That memory is the point: a one-off score will not show you that you keep answering opinion questions as if they were discussions.